Education
The John Smith Trail provides a compelling way of educating students and the general public about our nation's early history, the contributions of the Native Americans, and about the bay's natural wonders and its complex workings.
That's important. Only a small percentage of the 3.5 million K-12 students and even fewer adults in the Chesapeake Bay watershed receive any kind of consistent environmental education, due to limited resources, and the testing requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, public access to the bay is limited.
The Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail will collaborate with the National Park Service and the Network of Chesapeake Trails and Gateways Program to develop the John Smith trail's education opportunities and access to the bay.
The Friends also work with organizations such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Geographic Society to develop curriculum programs for classrooms, activities to get people out on the waters, and engaging materials that tell the bay's story.
